Spathiphyllum plant named ‘96411-10’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Spathiphyllum  plant named ‘96411-10’ that is characterized by white spathes, green leaves, early branching and a good response to plant growth regulators.

Botanical Classification: Spathiphyllum Schott. Variety Denomination:‘96411-10’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSpathiphyllum plant botanically known as Spathiphyllum Schott. andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘96411-10’.

‘96411-10’ is a hybrid that originated from the hybridization of thefemale or seed parent a proprietary Spathiphyllum Schott. identified as‘94162-1’ (not patented) and the male or pollen parent a proprietarySpathiphyllum Schott. identified as ‘95280-46’ (not patented). Thecultivar ‘96411-10’ was selected by the inventor in February of 1998 asa single plant within the progeny of the stated cross in Honselersdijk,The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction by tissue culture of the new cultivar ‘96411-10’was first performed in February of 1999 in Honselersdijk, TheNetherlands. Since that time, under careful observation, the uniquecharacteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newSpathiphyllum cultivar ‘96411-10’.

-   -   1. Spathiphyllum ‘96411-10’ exhibits white spathes.    -   2. Spathiphyllum ‘96411-10’ exhibits green leaves.    -   3. Spathiphyllum ‘96411-10’ exhibits early branching.    -   4. Spathiphyllum ‘96411-10’ responds well to plant growth        regulators.

The closest comparison cultivar is Spathiphyllum ‘Sweet Pablo’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 10,817). The new cultivar ‘96411-10’ is distinguishablefrom ‘Sweet Pablo’ by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘96411-10’ has wavy leaf margins. ‘Sweet Pablo’ does not have        wavy leaf margins.    -   2. ‘96411-10’ has more spathes than ‘Sweet Pablo’.

The new cultivar ‘96411-10’ is distinguishable from the male parentSpathiphyllum ‘95280-46’ in having more spathes and a better response toplant growth regulators. The new cultivar ‘96411-10’ is distinguishablefrom the female parent. Spathiphyllum ‘94162-1’ in having more spathesand a better response to plant growth regulators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofSpathiphyllum ‘96411-10’. The plant in the photograph shows an overallview of a 29 week old plant. The photograph was taken using conventionaltechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventionalphotographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Spathiphyllumcultivar named ‘96411-10’. Data was collected in Honselersdijk, TheNetherlands from 29 week old greenhouse grown plants in 2 litercontainers. The time of year was Spring and the average temperature was22 degrees Centigrade during the day and 20 degrees Centigrade at night.No photoperiodic treatments were used. 60 PPM of Gibberallic acid wasapplied for flower initiation. Color determinations are in accordancewith The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 edition, exceptwhere general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.The growing requirements are similar to the species. ‘96411-10’ has notbeen tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences maybe observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Spathiphyllum Schott. ‘96411-10’.-   Use: Ornamental.-   Parentage: ‘96411-10’ is a hybrid plant that resulted from the    hybridization of the following parent plants:    -   -   Female parent.—A proprietary Spathiphyllum Schott.            identified as ‘94162-1’.        -   Male parent.—A proprietary Spathiphyllum Schott. identified            as ‘95280-46’.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Growth habit: Freely branching from base, bushy and dense.-   Plant shape: Inverted triangle with inflorescences on top.-   Suitable container size: 17 cm container.-   Height: Average 55 cm to top of leaf plane, 67 cm to top of    inflorescences.-   Width: Average 63.5 cm in width.-   Hardiness: USDA Zone 10.-   Propagation: Tissue Culture.-   Time to initiate roots (summer and winter): Approximately 14 days to    produce roots on an initial cutting.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner (summer and winter):    Approximately 38 days.-   Root system: Fine and fibrous.-   Stem: No stems, Leaves grow directly from base, Average 3 clumps,    clump color 144A to 144B.-   Foliage:    -   -   Texture.—Smooth, slightly leathery.        -   Appearance.—Glossy.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Compound of or single.—single.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic to narrow elliptic.        -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf length.—Average 29.6 cm in length.        -   Leaf width.—10.3 cm in width.        -   Quantity of leaves per clump.—Average 5.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire, undulant; 10 waves per leaf.        -   Vein pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—143A.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—137B to 137B.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—137A 139A.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—137B to 137C.        -   Vein color (upper surface).—141A.        -   Vein color (lower surface).—144B.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole dimensions.—Average 24 cm in length excluding            geniculum, 4 mm in diameter below geniculum to 5 mm in            diameter above clump.        -   Petiole aspect.—Round.        -   Petiole color.—137A, lighter towards the base 143C.        -   Geniculum dimensions.—Average 2.2 cm in length and 4.5 mm in            diameter.        -   Geniculum aspect.—Rounded, glossy, glabrous.        -   Geniculum color.—144B.        -   Petiole sheath dimensions.—Average 17.7 cm in length and 5            mm in diameter.        -   Petiole sheath color.—137A lighter towards the base, 143A.        -   Durability of foliage to stress.—High.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Spathes with spadices held above            the foliage on erect peduncles arising from the petiole            sheath.        -   Flowering habit.—Continuous.        -   Quantity of spathes per plant.—Average 11.        -   Natural flowering season.—Autumn to winter to spring.        -   Time to flower or response time.—6 months.        -   Fragrance.—Moderate, acid-sweet; pleasant.        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Persistent.        -   Flower longevity.—Lasts approximately 3 weeks on plant.        -   Spathe aspect.—Slightly cupped.        -   Spathe dimensions.—Average 14.8 cm in length, 6.1 cm in            width and 4.1 cm in depth.        -   Spathe texture.—Glabrous, slightly leathery.        -   Spathe shape.—Elliptic to broad elliptic.        -   Spathe margin.—Entire.        -   Spathe apex.—Apiculate.        -   Spathe base.—Cuneate.        -   Spathe color when opening (front side).—N155A, apex 138C.        -   Spathe color when opening (rear side).—N155A, apex and base            144A; main vein N144A.        -   Spathe color when fully opened (front side).—N155A, apex            138C.        -   Spathe color when fully opened (rear side).—N155A, apex and            base 144A; main vein N144A.        -   Spathe color fading to.—143A to 143C.        -   Spadix shape.—Columnar, arising from top of peduncle.        -   Spadix tip.—Obtuse.        -   Spadix base.—Obtuse.        -   Spadix dimensions.—Average 5.9 cm in length and 1.5 mm in            diameter.        -   Spadix color when opening.—4D.        -   Spadix color when fully opened.—158D.        -   Quantity of flowers per spadix.—Average 160.        -   Spadix flower arrangement.—Bisexual, rounded.        -   Spadix flower dimensions.—3.5 mm in diameter and 3 mm in            depth.-   Reproductive organs.    -   -   Anther color.—158B to 158C.        -   Amount of pollen.—High.        -   Pollen color.—155D.        -   Stigma color.—158A.        -   Ovary color.—158B to 158C.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle dimensions.—Average 43.7 cm in length and 4.0 mm.            in diameter.        -   Peduncle angle.—10° from vertical.        -   Peduncle color.—143A.        -   Peduncle strength.—Strong.-   Seed: Seed production has not been observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have    not been observed for disease or insect resistance.

1. A new and distinct variety of Spathiphyllum plant named ‘96411-10’ asdescribed and illustrated.